JUST SOLD! 461 Orchard Drive, Madison WI

Alvarado Real Estate Group congratulates happy new buyers as they move into an incredibly resilient Madison Westside neighborhood. 461 Orchard Drive was lovingly cared for by the same owner for many years and is ready for some changes, energy efficient updates and green features. Sold for $176,000 this home features 3 bedrooms, 1 bath upstairs and a half bath in the lower level, gorgeous backyard, and a one car garage. It was one of those “This is it!” moments as the buyers walked in the front door. Sometimes you know right away.

Are you thinking of buying or selling? Contact us today for information and to have that important first conversation. It is crucial that you and your agent connect and that it is a good fit to create a successful transaction.

3 Bedroom Madison Home

Great 2 story in friendly Ridgewood neigborhood offers perfect layout, laminate wood floors, half bath on main floor, open kitchen, breakfast bar, lots of counter space & dining area overlooking back deck & huge fenced yard! Main floor laundry! Master bedroom features two walk-in closets, full master bathroom. Lower level family room with large windows offers natural light, great playroom, office or guest area and 3/4 bath. Fresh paint, new light fixtures, NEW roof & 1 yr home warranty + credit for lower level carpet available!

Property Features

• 3 BR, 3.5 Baths, 1650 sq. ft.
• Finished lower level with 3/4 BA
• Natural light, very bright and sunny
• Large, fenced yard
• New roof

For additional property information, including price, click here.

Madison East Side Neighborhood Information

Great neighborhood association info at www.ridgewoodna.org

• Just blocks from Glacier Hill Park (with soccer fields, playground equipment, basketball court, and coming soon…tennis courts and softball)
• Near dog park
• 5 minutes from East Towne Mall, shopping, restaurants & entertainment
• Easy access to I-90/94, & 10 minutes to the airport
• Only 12 minutes to downtown and University campus

School District Information for 1145 Glacier Hill Drive

• Hawthrone Elementary
• Sherman Middle School
• East High School

Contact a team member for a showing, call 608.251.6600 or email: info@thealvaradogroup.com.

Enjoy the suburban life on a cul de sac with the added bonus of being 7 minutes to all the urban amenities of downtown, the lakes, the bike paths and more. This home has a great yard, 2 stories (feels larger than the square footage) and an unfinished lower level with a walkout. Main floor offers a 1/2 bath, newer bamboo flooring and a dining room that opens to the back deck. Master bedroom has a walkthrough full bathroom and all new carpet throughout. UHP one year home warranty included.

Property Features

• 3 BR, 1.5 BA, 1,352 SqFt
• Huge backyard
• Bamboo Flooring, New Carpet

For additional information, including price, click here.

Madison Neighborhood Information

• Near Baxter Park
• Near Indian Springs trails
• Near the Capitol City Bike Path

Madison School District Information for Foxwood Trail

• Allis Elementary or Nuestro Mundo Community School
• Sennett Middle School
• LaFollette High School

Contact a team member for a showing, call 608.251.6600 or email: info@thealvaradogroup.com.

Madison Northside Neighborhood

This sunny 2 bedroom ranch used to be a 3 bedroom until a smart homeowner changed the 3rd bedroom into a beautiful dining room that connects to the kitchen and opens up the floor plan dramatically. Living room features a large window that brings in great sunshine and warmth. Hardwood floors and a wood burning fireplace add great character but one of the BEST features is the amazing & fenced backyard & screened porch. Best lot in the neighborhood!

Madison Northside Property Features

• 2 BR, 1 BA, 1140 sq. ft.
• Beautiful hardwood floors
• Large screened porch
• Huge fenced backyard
• Close to Warner Park

View current price and more photos – click here!

- Kitchen updates in 2009 include: solid surface counters, installed in 2009, new dishwasher, 2009, new stove/oven, 2009, sink and faucet new in 2009
- Washer and dryer new in 2006
- Brick wood burning fireplace in good condition
- All hardwood floors were refinished in 2005
- Roof is approximately 10 years old (2000)
- Huge completely fenced yard with large screen porch off garage
- Window coverings are newer and negotiable
- Furnace & water heater are 18 yrs old (remember there is a one year home warranty included!)
- Central air and water softener are approx 12 years old
- Drain tiles and sump pump were installed by previous owner. No water in basement!

Neighborhood Information, Madison’s Popular Northside

- Enjoy the famous Rhythm and Booms 4th of July fireworks that takes place annually just blocks away at Warner Park
- Just a short walk to Madison Mallards Minor League baseball games
- Great shopping, restaurants and local stores nearby too!
- Close to busline & easy commute downtown, minutes to airport
- Take advantage of the Warner Park dog park, Lake Mendota, and the Warner Park boat launch
- Vibrant and active Sherman Neighborhood Association offers many neighborhood opportunities: Annual Potluck Dinner, Earth Day Cleanup, Flower Weekend, Neighborhood Garage Sale, December Holiday Party!
- Northside Town Center and Northgate shopping centers create a truly walkable neighborhood.

Madison School District Information for 1953 Sachtjen Street

Mendota Elementary School
Sherman Middle School
East High School

Contact a team member for a showing, call 608.251.6600 or email: info@thealvaradogroup.com.

805 Bewick Drive, Madison WI

Incredibly well maintained ranch in a well established, sweet East side neighborhood close to Sycamore Park. There are many updates that make this home move in ready. The lot is perfect as the home sits high (no water in the basement) & the fenced backyard is level & spacious for fun play & offers a beautiful pond with fish, gorgeous landscaping, and a patio for entertaining. New roof, exterior just painted, new carpet, mechanicals replaced in past 10 years, full bathroom in lower level. 1 year home warranty included.

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

• 3 bedrooms
• 2 bathrooms
• 1705 total finished sq. ft.
• For price and additional information, click here.

Property Features:

• New 35 yr architectural shingle roof with transferrable warranty installed in JUNE 2010!
• Exterior Redwood siding recently painted (May/June 2010)
• New carpet in living room, May 2010 (no hardwood flooring under carpet in living room)
• Fresh paint throughout!
• Dishwasher new in 2008
• New flooring in kitchen in 2007
• Water heater new in 2003
• Washer and dryer replaced in 2001
• Furnace, April Air & central air units were replaced in 2000
• Wood burning fireplace in lower level is in good condition
• Seller will show Buyer how to use the pond (well maintained, fish stay alive through the winter).

Neighborhood Information

• Walk to Sycamore Park and enjoy the quiet Bewick Drive.
• Close to many great restaurants and shopping at East Towne Mall, the new Hy-Vee grocery store, Target, and more.
• Easy access from Hwy 30 to Stoughton Rd., Aberg, Interstate 90/94.
• Only 10 minutes to Downtown and UW campus.

School Information For 805 Bewick Drive

Schenk Elementary
Whitehorse Middle School
La Follette High School

For a private tour or more information on this home and its availability, please contact office@thealvaradogroup.com or 608.438.4315.

Wonderful floor plan, warm colors & a great lot with fenced yard & beautiful mature trees makes this home stand out from the rest. You’ll love the updates like newer windows, updated bathrooms, new furnace in 2006 & more. First floor family room w/stone fireplace, formal dining room & the upstairs master bdrm has a walk through bathroom. Lower level: newer egress window adds additional sunlight & full bath, great for guests! Vibrant community of Wexford Village, parks, walking/biking trails, close to shopping! And for more information about short sales…if you are a buyer and if you are a seller.

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

- 3 Bedroom, + office, 2.5 Bathrooms, 2,051 Sq Ft
- Main floor family room with wood burning fireplace
- Great fenced backyard with patio
- Lower level has private bathroom, great for guests!
For additional information and price, click here.

Property Features

- Furnace new in 2006
- Refrigerator new in 2008
- Newer windows (date unknown, but not original)
- Fan in master bedroom newly installed in 2010
- Sump pump in basement, seller has never had water problems
- Water softener recently serviced, good condition
- Fireplace has not been used by current owners

Wexford Village Neighborhood Information

- Enjoy several nearby parks, including Blackhawk, Junction Ridge, Mineral Point, Kettle Pond, Everglade and more
- Great shopping, restaurants and entertainment at nearby Sauk Point Square, Stonefield Glen and West Towne mall
- The High Point Swim Club is a few short miles away
- Local Wexford Village neighborhood association sponsors a variety of events and activities all year around.
- Wexford organizes its very own baseball and soccer leagues!
Please check out more details at the Wexford Village website.

1 N. Strathfield Circle School Information

Stephens Elementary
Jefferson Middle School
Memorial High School

This home is a short sale. The Alvarado Real Estate Group has team members that can assist you in learning more about short sales as a buyer or as a seller. Please contact us for a private tour or more information on short sales and the buying process:  office@thealvaradogroup.com or 608.438.4315.

Are you in Madison WI this weekend? This is a great family event that will not only get you all out on your bikes but will introduce you to some beautiful community gardens. Community Action Coalition for South Central Wisconsin, Inc. and the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin are joining together in hosting the 8^th annual Community Gardens Bike Tour with Mayor Dave Cieslewicz. This is the kind of event that makes us love living in the Madison area over and over again! 

Saturday, July 24, 2010 from 9am to 1pm. Meet at the East High Youth Farm.

This event is a free, family-friendly bike tour of four Madison and Monona community and food pantry gardens.
Here is an overview of the tour site visits:
- The bike tour will begin at the East High Youth farm (off Milwaukee Street on Lamplighter Way), then 
- The Glendale School garden and
- Monona United Methodist Church community and food pantry garden and the tour ends with
- Lunch at noon at St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church community and food pantry garden.

For further information contact: Nicole Craig, Community Gardens Specialist at the Community Action Coalition for South Central Wisconsin, Inc. via phone: 608-246-4730 ext. 208, email: nicolec@cacscw.org or visit online: www.cacscw.org/gardens

Two great open houses this weekend for those that are searching in the range of $284,900 – $299,900. 

12 Quinn Circle, Madison WI

12 Quinn Circle, Madison

The first featured home we are proud to present is at 12 Quinn Circle, Madison, WI in the Waunona neighborhood ($284,900). This 3 bedroom home is just one block to Lake Monona and Esther Beach and has a great flowing layout that is perfect for entertaining and showcases beautiful views of the wooded back yard and the large lot. Recently remodeled kitchen area features a gorgeous granite island, energy efficient radiant-heated Italian tile floors and stainless steel applicances. With 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, 2224 square feet and an attached 2 car garage, this home has great value. Kathryn Wunnicke is hosting this open house from 12-2pm on July 18th, 2010 and invites you to come for a live tour. 

818 Emerson, Madison WI

818 Emerson Street, Madison

Open Sunday from 12-2pm, hosted by Julie Campbell. A charming cape cod in the Bay Creek Neighborhood, well cared for by the current owners proves to be a suprise for many as it seems much smaller on the outside than it is when you walk through it. This home is quite large for the area with 2,086 sq. ft. and features a den on the main floor and a fourth bedroom (currently used as an office). The lower level family room has been professionally finished and features a full bath with an extra large tub, perfect for guests. You’ll love the details found in the remodeled kitchen with newer cabinets, granite counters and more! 818 Emerson Street has 4 bedrooms, 2 full baths, 2,086 square feet, one car garage and is offered at $299,900.  

Open houses are a great way to get to know a neighborhood and gather information to see what different styles are like, different price points and design ideas. They are also a great way to get off your online search, start seeing homes live and ask local, professional Real Estate Specialists your questions about the home buying search or the selling process. And if Sunday open houses don’t fit into your busy schedule, just call 608.438.4315 or email office@thealvaradogroup.com for a private showing. Our job is to get to know YOU, not just sell you a house.

Beautiful James Madison Park | Downtown Madison

Madison WI has the best parks and it is one of the things that adds to our Madison Style! We have Dog Parks, we have Kid Friendly Parks (no not all parks are kid friendly) and we have Romantic Parks.

In Madison, we love to picnic at the park, wake up early and stroll with our coffee in the park and meet friends to watch the sunset over the lake. Yes, there are a lot of small neighborhood parks that make living in our great neighborhoods so fabulous, but there are also some signature Madison Parks and here is our list of favorite TOP 10!

1. Wingra Park is a gathering place for soccer games, boat rentals, picnics and has a fun playground for the kids. The views are beautiful!

2. Olin Park on John Nolen Drive. Beautiful area overlooking Lake Monona, the Capitol and has a playground and shelter you can rent out.

3. James Madison Park on E. Gorham overlooks Lake Mendota and features a boat rental (also check out West side’s Wingra Park for boat rentals), basketball courts, a playground and lot’s of summer time fun.

4. Hoyt Park has great hiking trails, playground, basketball courts and shelters for rent. 

5. Olbrich Gardens. There is so much to say about our amazing Olbrich Gardens. It is not only a great tourist attraction but a regular place for us locals! And voted one of the the top ten most inspiring gardens in North America by Horticulture Magazine!

6. Westmorland Park offers a huge park for playing, soccer games, tennis and a great shelter for neighborhood gatherings, perfect for the Westmorland Community.

7. Orton Park has its own block in the heart of the Willy Street neighborhood and features a great playground, benches strategically placed amongst gorgeous huge trees and is just one block from the Lake. Orton Park is also well known for the Orton Park Festival, held each year in August.

8. Picnic Point is tucked away in the middle of University life and busy activities and offers students, professors, athletes, families and friends a 1 mile escape along the beautiful peninsula.

9. Vilas Park is a favorite family Madison destination on 42 acres! You can always find large family gatherings grilling out, playing at the famous Shoe playground, visiting one the few FREE Zoo’s in the nation (Henry Vilas Zoo) or spending the day at the beach, frisbee games, canoeing, fishing and the list goes on and on! Don’t miss ZuZu Cafe across the street for a great local cafe.   

10. I’m forgetting one…What’s your favorite neighborhood park? Or are you in the process of figuring that out and looking for homes in a specific area? Fantastico! We can help!

No, seriously…tell us your favorite park and why.